Method and system for reporting automotive traffic conditions in response to user-specific requests

• US 6,741,926 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ZAMA Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Lara F., Zhao, Wei, Oblon, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/004,500
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/213, 701/117, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 340/995.13, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

The method and system described herein provides an interface for accessing a database containing information pertaining traffic conditions. Using the interface, a driver can receive traffic conditions potentially affecting the driver'"'"'s particular commute, just prior to the time at which the driver chooses between one or more routes for the commute. Several embodiments are disclosed in accordance with the present invention by which the driver can easily receive timely traffic information from the interface via driver'"'"'s wireless communications device, such as a wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A traffic reporting system comprising:

a) a subscriber database for maintaining subscriber account information including subscriber identification information, wherein the subscriber identification information includes a list of telephone numbers for each subscriber;

b) a traffic information database for receiving updates of traffic information and storing the most recently received information; and

c) a traffic information interface for providing traffic information from the traffic information database pertaining to a particular route or street to an identified subscriber in response to a particular request via a telephone call over a wireless network,

wherein the system identifies a subscriber by comparing a calling number of the telephone call to subscriber identification information in the subscriber database, wherein if the caller is identified as a subscriber, the system provides traffic information to the subscriber, and if the caller is identified as a non-subscriber, the system plays an automated message and disconnects the telephone call.

2. The traffic reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information interface is operated by a human intermediary who receives requests for traffic information spoken by subscribers over a wireless network.

3. The traffic reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information interface provides traffic information based upon requests provided through responses to automated prompts by a subscriber using a wireless telephone.

4. The traffic reporting system according to claim 3, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the traffic information interface by providing a list of one or more streets or routes that are of interest to the subscriber.

5. The traffic reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information interface automatically transmits short text messages to particular subscribers based upon either the time or the geographical location of each subscriber.

6. The traffic reporting system according to claim 5, wherein subscribers pre-configure the traffic information interface by providing a list of one or more streets or routes that are of interest to the respective subscribers.

7. The traffic reporting system according to claim 6, wherein subscribers pre-configure the traffic information interface by additionally including one or more times to receive traffic information.

8. The traffic reporting system according to claim 5, wherein the traffic information interface provides information to subscribers based upon the respective subscribers'"'"' geographical location information as determined by GPS receivers.

9. The traffic reporting system according to claim 1, wherein the traffic information database receives updates of traffic information from at least one of road sensors, traffic cameras, traffic reports, and telephone callers.

10. A method for providing traffic information from a traffic database to a subscriber over a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a telephone call from a caller'"'"'s wireless telephone;

b) detecting a telephone directory number of the wireless telephone; and

c) determining whether the caller is a subscriber by comparing the telephone directory number to a list of current subscribers in a subscriber database,

wherein if the caller is a subscriber, the method further comprises

d) receiving the subscriber'"'"'s present and intended destination locations to request traffic information, and

e) calculating a most efficient route to travel between the locations, based upon traffic information stored in a traffic database, and

wherein if the caller is not a subscriber, the method further comprises playing an automated message and disconnecting the telephone call.

11. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 10, wherein the present and intended destination location is provided by the subscriber in response to an automated voice prompt.

12. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 11, wherein the present and intended destination location is received by speech recognition.

13. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 10, wherein the most efficient route is calculated by performing the steps of:

a) determining potential routes between the present and intended destination locations;

b) selecting a predetermined number of the most geographically direct routes;

c) generating street-by-street directions for each selected route;

d) calculating the time required to travel each street within each route; and

e) comparing the total times to travel each route.

14. A method for providing traffic information from a traffic database to a subscriber over a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a telephone call from a caller'"'"'s wireless telephone; and

determining whether the caller is a subscriber by comparing the caller'"'"'s wireless telephone number to a list of current subscribers in a subscriber database,

wherein if the caller is a subscriber, the method further comprises

b) receiving the subscriber'"'"'s responses to one or more automated prompts;

c) retrieving a starting and destination location from a subscriber database based upon the subscriber'"'"'s responses; and

d) calculating a most efficient route to travel between the locations, based upon traffic information stored in a traffic database,

wherein if the caller is not a subscriber, the method further comprises playing an automated message and disconnecting the telephone call.

15. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

e) retrieving a code name indicating the name of the most efficient route; and

f) reporting the code name to the subscriber.

16. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 14, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database by performing the steps of:

a) entering a wireless directory telephone number;

b) entering a starting and destination location;

c) identifying at least two routes to travel between the locations; and

d) identifying a code name for each route.

17. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 16, further comprising the step of identifying a name or code for the trip between the starting and destination location, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database for a plurality of trips between different starting and destination locations.

18. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 17, wherein the subscriber identifies the trip in response to the automated prompts to receive an indication of the most efficient route from the plurality of routes entered into the subscriber database and corresponding to the particular trip, based upon current traffic information.

19. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 18, wherein the subscriber identifies the trip by depressing one or more keys on the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone corresponding to the code for the trip.

20. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 18, wherein the subscriber identifies the trip by speaking the name of the trip corresponding to the trip name stored in the subscriber database, and wherein the name of the trip is recognized by speech recognition.

21. A method for providing traffic information from a traffic database to a subscriber over a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a telephone call from a caller'"'"'s wireless telephone; and

determining whether the caller is a subscriber by comparing the caller'"'"'s wireless telephone number to a list of current subscribers in a subscriber database,

wherein if the caller is a subscriber the method further comprises

b) receiving the subscriber'"'"'s responses to one or more automated prompts;

c) identifying a portion of a roadway based upon the subscriber'"'"'s responses and information stored in the subscriber database; and

d) retrieving traffic information for the portion of the roadway based upon information maintained in a traffic database, and

wherein if the caller is not a subscriber, the method further comprises playing an automated message and disconnecting the telephone call.

22. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

e) reporting the traffic information to the subscriber by providing at least one of speed of travel information and traffic advisory information.

23. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 21, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database by performing the steps of:

a) entering a wireless directory telephone number;

b) selecting a portion of a roadway; and

c) identifying a code or name for the portion of the roadway.

24. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 21, wherein the subscriber identifies the portion of the roadway by depressing one or more keys on the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone corresponding to the code for the portion of the roadway stored in the subscriber database.

25. A method for providing traffic information from a traffic database to a subscriber over a wireless network comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from a caller'"'"'s wireless telephone; and

determining whether the caller is a subscriber by comparing the caller'"'"'s wireless telephone number to a list of current subscribers in a subscriber database,

wherein if the caller is a subscriber, the method further comprises

a) detecting that the subscriber requested to receive traffic information at a present time;

b) retrieving an indication of the traffic information requested by the subscriber from the subscriber database;

c) retrieving the requested traffic information from a traffic database; and

d) transmitting a short text message to be received on the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone,

wherein the requested traffic information is reported to the subscriber in the short text message, and wherein if the caller is not a subscriber, the method further comprises playing an automated message and disconnecting the call.

26. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 25, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database by performing the steps of:

a) entering a starting and destination location;

b) identifying at least two routes to travel between the locations; and

c) identifying a code name for each route,

wherein the information entered into the subscriber database is associated with a telephone number of a wireless telephone of the subscriber.

27. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 26, wherein the subscriber additionally enters an estimated time and date of travel into the subscriber database.

28. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 27, wherein a subset of information entered into the subscriber database is entered into a scheduler database, which detects when to report particular traffic information to each respective subscriber.

29. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 26, wherein the method further includes automatically reporting traffic information when the subscriber'"'"'s wireless telephone registers in a predetermined cellular location.

30. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 26, wherein the method further includes automatically reporting traffic information when the subscriber reaches a predetermined location as detected by a GPS receiver.

31. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 26, wherein the traffic information that is reported is an indication as to which of the at least to routes identified into the subscriber database is the most efficient route.

32. The method for providing traffic information according to claim 25, wherein the subscriber pre-configures the subscriber database by entering a first and second location along a roadway,

wherein the information entered into the subscriber database is associated with a telephone number of a wireless telephone of the subscriber, and the traffic information that is reported is an indication of the traffic conditions between the first and second locations along the roadway.